Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez has praised the measures in place to help police in Devon and Cornwall keep communities safe as the population increases dramatically during the four months of the summer.
To help meet the needs of residents and visitors during July and August, officers who would normally be delivering training will be spending a minimum of five shifts on patrol or in other public-facing roles.
In addition to this, senior officers who lead operational teams are also returning to the front line, and the Chief Constable is personally supporting the initiative by spending time with the force contact team.
As part of the redeployment plan, training that was due to take place in August has been rescheduled and the amount of leave that officers and staff are allowed to take in July and August has been restricted.
Commissioner Hernandez, who has long campaigned for the cost of policing summer visitors to be recognised in the funding received from government, said “I want to say a heartfelt thank you to all officers and staff who will be taking on different shifts and helping to maintain public visibility during this exceptionally busy time.”
Last year there was a 15% increase in the number of urgent incidents the force responded to between June and September – an average of 292 per day, compared with an average of 255 a day across the eight months of the rest of the year.
Alongside those who are joining patrol teams responding to urgent calls, other officers who would normally be delivering training will be doing custody shifts or supporting detectives investigating crime.
This approach is not simply about increasing front line policing numbers during the summer period; it is about enhancing capability and resilience by placing highly skilled and experienced officers where they can have the greatest operational impact and deliver the high standards communities expect.
Having spent years developing the skills of others, officers from training teams will be applying their experience directly on the frontline – supporting colleagues, mentoring less experienced officers, managing complex situations and helping deliver a visible, responsive policing service.
Commissioner Herrnandez added: “I am pleased to see the summer plan for policing in Devon and Cornwall is extensive, coordinated, and based on what works.
“Every summer, the challenge is the same – when it comes to domestic tourism, we welcome more visitors than anywhere else in England – including London.
“That’s brilliant news for our economy, but it’s also a serious strain on our police force. Calls for service increase and incidents of antisocial behaviour rise.
“This summer policing plan will help ensure Devon and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly remain some of the safest places to live and visit in the country.”
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